Young artists have appreciative audience at IS 24

Barnes Intermediate School (IS 24) students created a tile mosaic and decorated the halls and doors of the Great Kills school.
(Photo Courtesy of Barnes Intermediate School)

STATEN ISLAND, NY - GREAT KILLS - The arts were alive and well this school year at Barnes Intermediate School.

This year's theme took on a graceful touch, emanating from the school's new Japanese garden planted alongside the entrance path to the front doors.

The garden served as a living classroom for sixth-graders, who studied the art of Japan and created Japanese landscape watercolor paintings based on the graceful plants and architectural details displayed in the garden. The students' watercolors are displayed in the lobby vestibule.

Also displayed in the hallway opposite the main office is a wall tile mural titled "Lasting Impressions." Seventh-graders studied the Impressionist masters and created watercolor paintings in their style. Eighth-graders then took the paintings and transformed them into ceramic wall tiles to display as a legacy from the graduating class of 2010.

Art students at Barnes also painted classroom doors in welcoming colors and themes to reflect the subject area taught in each room.

The formerly stark-white cafeteria also was transformed with colorful artwork. Students teamed up with visiting artists from the non-profit "Publicolor" to paint the cafeteria walls in bright, neon shades, adding inspirational quotes on the wall-canvas.

SPRING ART SHOW

Art teacher Lori Langsner teamed up with the school's performing arts departments to present the annual Spring Art Show. Band students performed in a woodwind ensemble, accompanied by a pianist. The music served as a background to families and community members who had been invited to view student artwork.

Media arts students also presented a video they produced from photographs taken throughout the year, documenting the young artists at work on their projects. The artwork will remain displayed throughout the summer.